Apparatus for the planting of cuttings

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus for planting cuttings one by one, which includes a propelled or towed frame supported by rotatable support wheels, a feeding apparatus for cuttings to be planted and intended for bringing the cuttings into contact with a driving device vertically displaceable in a planting tube. The feeding apparatus is designed for receiving, one by one, cuttings which have been cut in advance to a length suitable for planting of full shoots or such portions thereof the length of which exceeds the length of a cutting intended for planting. The planting tube and at least one portion of the feeding apparatus are movable relative to each other. Cutting apparatus is provided in connection with the feeding apparatus for cutting off a fed, full shoot or a portion thereof during relative movement, whereupon a cutting cut off to a suitable length by the relative movement, during the final phase thereof, is brought to a position in the path of movement of driving apparatus.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for planting cuttings oneby one, of the kind indicated in the characterizing portion of patentclaim 1.

SE-A-8103646-9 discloses an assembly for planting cuttings by means ofspring-actuated driving means cooperating with feeding tubes forready-cut cuttings having a predetermined, relatively short length. Forthe manmvring of the driving means these are connected to a line theother end of which is connected to a rotatable arm for alternatelypulling and slackening the line.

Such a prior art assembly is sensitive to disturbance and is dependentupon relatively even ground in order to be able to perform adequateplanting. Furthermore said assembly is exclusively intended for plantingcuttings of a predetermined length, which means that whole or fullshoots (stalks, stems) must be cut in advance to cuttings ofpredetermined lengths. Said prior art machine also works with a fixeddistance between the planted rows and the spring-actuated driving meansrequires a relatively soft planting ground or soil.

Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide aplanting apparatus permitting the use of full shoots, portions of fullshoots as well as cuttings of a predetermined length.

This primary object of the invention is achieved by means of a plantingapparatus of the kind indicated in the characterizing portion of patentclaim 1.

Accordingly, in the solution suggested by the invention the feedingapparatus, which may also be referred to as a storage space, isdimensioned so that it may receive, one by one, upright full shoots,portions of full shoots or cuttings that have been cut in advance andthat may be planted without any further processing. Through a relativemotion between the planting tube, with the driving means displaceablyreceived therein, and the feeding apparatus, receiving the full shoot orthe like, a cutting of the full shoot etc, is performed through cuttingmeans provided adjacent the feeding apparatus, and in the same step itis achieved that a portion (cutting) of a full shoot or the like cut insuch a manner is brought to a position in the path of movement of thedriving means so that it may be actuated by this driving means.

A planting apparatus designed in the above indicated manner becomes veryefficient due to the fact that a precutting of full shoots to cuttinglengths is eliminated, which is otherwise a relatively time-consumingwork. The feeding apparatus may cooperate with different types ofhoppers or magazines, whereby a synchronizing is preferably performedbetween the work of the planting apparatus and the feeding of cuttingsor full shoots from the magazine and into the feeding apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment the feeding apparatus and the planting tubeare provided vertically side by side, and the reason for this is toobtain as short movements as possible for the relative motiontherebetween. In this connection it has been found to be specificallyadvantageous to design the feeding apparatus such that it comprises aportion movable relative to the planting tube and adapted to bring acutting cut from a full shoot or the like to its position below thedriving means, in the path of movement of the driving means in theplanting tube, by its swinging movement. The swinging or pivotableportion of the feeding apparatus is thereby provided having a lengthsubstantially corresponding to, but in practice slightly exceeding thepredetermined length of a cutting to be planted.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention theplanting apparatus is designed so that during a planting process anessentially fixed distance is maintained between the ground surface andthe downwardly directed end of the planting tube, irrespective of theground condition.

Preferred further developments of the inventive concept further suggestthat the cutting means are provided in the shape of two reel cutterscooperating with each other to cut the full shoot or the like during therelative motion, whereby a clean surface of cut is achieved; that beforethe planting process the full shoot or the cut cutting are supported ona base of the planting tube, said base being displaceable away from saidsupporting position; that the lower portions of the feeding apparatusand of the planting tube are surrounded by protective housings shaped asground engaging, rotatable wheels which together with the planting tubeare movable in the vertical plane in order to guarantee that a cuttingis always driven down to the optimum depth, irrespective of the groundcondition; and that the planting apparatus is equipped with one singlepower source, preferably in the shape of a hydraulic cylinder, whichmeans that the costs may be significantly reduced and that the reasonsfor malfunction may be reduced at the same time. This single powersource mechanically drives all of the functions required by the plantingapparatus. The planting process is carried out due to the fact that thepower source is activated in dependence upon the rotation of at leastone of the support wheels.

A further advantageous development of the invention is directed toproviding the possibility of performing a stepless adjustment of thedistance between subsequently planted cuttings and also a steplessadjustment of the distance between two adjacent rows of plantedcuttings.

Other characterizing features of the invention are clear from thefollowing description, claims and drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will be more closely described below inconnection with the enclosed, to a great extent schematical drawings, onwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a planting apparatus according to theinvention for planting cuttings,

FIG. 1a is a front view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 is a schematic detail view of one embodiment of the feedingapparatus in the shape of a funnel-like supply space in a firstposition, the planting tube and the drive mechanism,

FIG. 3 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the feeding apparatusin a second position,

FIG. 4 is a detail view from the side of a second embodiment of thelower swingable portion of the feeding apparatus provided with cuttingmeans,

FIG. 5 is a view from above of the embodiment according to FIG. 4,

FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate a modified embodiment of the feeding apparatus,where the upper as well as the lower portions thereof are swingable, and

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of how the actuation of the drive assemblyis controlled depending upon the rotation of one or both of the supportwheels.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for planting cuttings comprises aframe consisting of horizontal fixed frame parts 10 spaced in thevertical plane and mutually connected to vertical posts 11, 12 of whichthe post 12 is firmly connected to a platform 14 for the manual serviceof at least one existing space 15 for cuttings. This space 15 may forinstance be in the shape of a turret magazine, but it should beemphasized that the invention is in no way restricted to this kind ofmagazine but may be operated together with optional types of magazines.Below the space 15 a feeding apparatus 16 is vertically extended, and inthe embodiment illustrated in the drawings said feeding apparatuscomprises a vertical wall portion and an inclined wall portion, whichgives the feeding apparatus 16 a hopper-like shape. The vertical wallportion of the feeding apparatus 16 is connected to a verticallydisposed planting tube 17. The feeding apparatus 16, which opensupwardly towards the magazine space 15 and downwardly opens towards theplanting tube 17, and the planting tube 17 both terminate inapproximately the same horizontal plane, at a small distance above theground level. If the space 15 is a turret magazine or any other type ofautomatic magazine cuttings may be automatically fed to the feedingapparatus 16.

FIG. 1a illustrates that the above described frame is supported by tworotatable support wheels 18. These support wheels 18 are each rigidlyattached to a respective sleeve 18', and these two sleeves 181 are inturn displaceable along a beam 18" extended transversely to theadvancing direction of the machine (see the arrow in FIG. 1).

The planting apparatus essentially consisting of the feeding apparatus16 and the planting tube 17, is provided between the support wheels 18and also between laterally spaced support beams 13.

The planting tube 17 is swingably connected to an upper joint 17' and isthus supported by the support beams 13 so as to be pivotal about thejoint 17'. The pivoting of the planting tube 17 about the joint 17' isnecessary in order to make sure that during advancement of the plantingmachine during the planting the planting tube 17 maintains its positionrelative to the ground during the time sequence of the driving-down of acutting into the ground. Otherwise, if the planting tube were firmlymounted, no appropriate planting of the cutting could be performed sincethe movement of the machine during the driving-down phase could causethe cutting to be inclined and in the worse case to break. In the caseswhere the planting machine is advanced at low speed it may be sufficientif the planting tube 17 is freely swingable about the joint 17' so that,when driving down the cutting, the planting tube is maintained in thedriving-down position by the cutting during the advancement of themachine, and so that the planting tube after terminating the plantingoperation is swung back to the initial position for a new plantingprocess by gravity or by spring force, etc. To provide increased safetyof operation, and above all for securing a reliable function whenadvancing the machine at higher speeds, it is however preferable tosynchronize the swinging of the planting tube 17 with the drivingmovement for the planting operation. This synchronizing may for instancebe performed by means of a linkage 55 which is only indicated in FIG. 1and which on one side is connected to the rocker member 44 of the drivemechanism to be described more closely below, and which on the otherside is connected to the planting tube in a manner not disclosed in thedrawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the beams 13 are each firmly connected to arespective horizontal arm 20, which is pivoted at the joint 21, andthereby the beams 13 are movable in a vertical plane about the joint 21together with the cooperating means, i.e. the planting tube 17 and thefeeding apparatus 16 which are indirectly supported by the beams 13, andalso protective housings 22. As illustrated in FIG. 1a two protectivehousings 22 are provided which are each rotatably connected to therespective beam 13. The protective housings 22 are inclined and togetherform a ground engaging wheel the rotary speed of which is determined bythe rate of advancement of the planting apparatus. Due to the pivotingabout the joint 21 the ground engaging wheel 22 may always be in contactwith the ground irrespective of the ground conditions, and thereby apredetermined distance between the lower end of the planting tube 17 andthe ground is guaranteed. Normally the weight of the assembly pivotablein the described manner and consisting of beams 13, planting tube 17,feeding apparatus 16 and ground engaging wheel 22 is sufficient formaintaining the ground engaging wheel 22 in contact with the ground, butunder certain circumstances it may be desirable to connect a spring 24with predetermined biasing between the pivotal assembly, morespecifically the beams 13 of FIG. 1, and a fixed portion of the frame,such as the vertical beam 12, in order to maintain the protectivehousings 22 securely engaging the ground.

Referring further to FIG. 1, a so called disc coulter 23 may beprovided, the purpose of which is to prepare the ground where necessarybefore the planting of the cuttings. This disc coulter is thereforepositioned in front of the planting apparatus, as seen in the advancingdirection indicated by means of the arrow F in FIG. 1, and is providedwith an overload protection system indicated at 57. Thus, the disccoulter is, in a manner not illustrated in detail, pivotal in a verticalplane, counteracting a spring force, so that it may swing away f romrocks in the ground.

FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically illustrate a first general embodiment of thefeeding apparatus of the planting apparatus according to the invention,together with a planting tube and drive means. In this embodiment thefeeding apparatus 16 is divided into an upper portion and a lowerpivotal portion 16a. This lower portion 16a is arranged for limitedmovement about a joint 25 from a position (FIG. 2) permitting automaticfeeding of a so called full shoot 26, i.e. having a length of normally1.5 to 5 meters, from the magazine space 15 (or manually) whereby thelower end of the full shoot 26 abuts a bottom plate (not shown) at thelowermost end of the planting tube 17, which bottom plate may be swungaway. From this first end position the lowermost portion 16a is pivotaltowards the planting tube 17.

FIGS. 2 and 3 further indicate that the planting tube 17 at the lowerportion thereof has an approximately semi-circular cross-section andthat the pivotal lower portion 16a of the feeding apparatus likewise hasan approximately semi-circular shape in cross-section. When the pivotallower portion 16a has reached a second end position (FIG. 3) ittherefore forms a vertical continuation of the planting tube 17. Thefull shoot 26 which in FIG. 2 extended from the bottom plate of theplanting tube 17, which may be swung away and which is not illustrated,to the upper portion of the feeding apparatus 16, is subjected tocross-cutting by means of cutting means deleted from FIGS. 2 and 3 butillustrated in FIG. 4 and 5, by the movement of the pivotal portion 16afrom the first, in FIG. 2 illustrated end position to the second, inFIG. 3 illustrated end position. The result of this is that a cutting26a having a predetermined length is brought with the portion 16a in itsmovement towards the planting tube 17 and is brought to its plantingposition in the planting tube 17, whereas the remaining portion of thefull shoot 26 remains standing in the upper portion of the feedingapparatus (FIG. 3) with its end abutting a stop 27 at the upper side ofthe movable portion 16a. In the case where reel cutters according toFIGS. 4 and 5 are employed as cutting means these may form the stop forthe remaining portion of the full shoot in the upper portion of thefeeding apparatus.

Although FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the upper portion of the feedingapparatus shaped as a feeding funnel, it should be emphasized that thisupper portion may within the scope of the invention be modified indifferent ways, and may for instance perform a positive, controlledfeeding-down of the full shoots into the pivotal lower portion.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an example of a cutting means providing cleanand smooth cut edges and being attached to the upper edge of the pivotalportion 16a. Two opposing reel cutters 28 are rotatably clamped betweentwo plates 29, 30 and these plates are pivotal about an axis 31 providedat the outer edge of the portion 16a. Links 56 are with one end thereofpivotally connected to an extension of the rotary or joint axis 28' ofthe reel cutters 28 and are with the other end thereof pivotallyconnected to a second pivot 32 provided in a mounting plate 33. When thepivotal portion 16a receives an impulse to move to the second endposition illustrated in FIG. 3, the above described arrangement willbring the knives 28 to move towards the full shoot to be cut off. Theremaining portion of the full shoot may rest on the upper side of theknives or cutters 28. One or two reel cutters or the like may beemployed.

It is obvious that it is likewise possible to employ other cutting meansfor cutting off a full shoot.

FIG. 5 also illustrates that the rear wall 34 of the pivotal portion 16amay consist of a flexible plastic sheet arranged to slide in guides 35.When the movable or pivotal portion moves towards a second position, thesheet 34 is pushed inwardly and at the end of the path of movement ofthe portion 16a it is brought to engage the cutting 26a therebyguaranteeing the correct vertical positioning of the cutting in theplanting tube 7.

FIGS. 6a-6d schematically illustrate an example of a modified embodimentof the feeding apparatus illustrated in for instance FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6a is comparable to FIG. 2 when it comes to the operation, i.e. themovable portion 16a is in a receiving position. In FIG. 6b the portion16a is in the second end position, whereby the full shoot has been cutoff with the above described knife or cutter arrangement. In order todetect whether or not the remaining portion of the full shoot has such alength that it may form a cutting that may be planted, there areprovided three links 36, 37, 38 which are interconnected and a spring39. When the pivotal portion 16a is swung to said second end position,the links 37, 38 are actuated since one end of the spring 39 is attachedto the link 38 and its other end is attached to the movable portion 16a.The movement of the links 37, 38 bring about a movement of the arm 36 ina direction towards the planting tube 17. If there remains a full shootof such a length that it may later be used as a cutting for planting,this portion of the full shoot will, under the force from the arm 36,which is primarily arranged to detect the possible existense of a fullshoot, be forced to engage the right, straight wall of the feedingapparatus 16. In the case illustrated as an example the portion of thefull shoot will be clamped during the planting of the earlier cut offcutting (FIG. 6c). The links 36-38 will not return to their initialposition until the pivotal portion 16a returns to its receivingposition. When the links 36-38 return the portion of the full shoot isreleased so that it falls down into the movable portion 16a by gravity.FIG. 6d illustrates the same position as FIG. 6b except that the link 36has not detected the presence of any acceptable portion of a full shoot.The link 36 thereby continues through an opening in the right wall ofthe feeding apparatus 16 and contacts the planting tube 17. Thereby, thelinks 37, 38 force the upper portion of the feeding apparatus 16 toswing about an upper pivot 40 in a direction away from the planting tube17 so that when a non-acceptable portion of a full shoot exists it mayfall freely out through the lower opening of the space 16.

In order to explain the drive arrangement employed for achieving theabove described planting process, reference is once more made to FIGS.1, 2 and 3. A hydraulic cylinder 41 is pivotally connected to the movingportion 16a through a flange 42. The piston rod end 43 of the cylinder41 is pivotally connected to a rocker member 44 which is pivotallysupported at 45. A transfer arm 46 is with one of its ends pivotallyconnected to the rocker member 44 at 45' and is with the other endthereof pivotally connected to a flange 47 which is in turn connected toa cylindrical driving means 48, provided inside the planting tube 17.When the cylinder 41 receives an activating impulse it will initiallybring the moving portion 16a to commence its movement towards the secondend position since, in this position, the hydraulic cylinder 41 is notcapable of turning the rocker member 44 about the pivot 45, dependingupon the fact that in this position the hydraulic cylinder 41 actsdirectly through the pivot 45, see FIG. 2, without any lever, wherebythe pivotal movement of the rocker member 44 is blocked. When the lowerportion 16a of the feeding apparatus 16 approaches the final phase ofits pivoting about the joint 25 it will through an actuating member 50provide an initial movement to the hydraulic cylinder 41 moving thelatter clockwise in FIG. 3, i.e. so that the hydraulic cylinder 41 doesno longer act through the pivot 45 of the rocker member 44 but therocker member is instead swung anti-clockwise in FIG. 2 and 3 by thehydraulic cylinder 41, whereby the driving means 48 initiates itsplanting movement through the transfer arm 46. Thereby, the arrangementis such that when the movable portion 16a has completed its swingingmovement the cutting is appropriately vertically oriented inside theplanting tube 17 so that the driving means 48 may complete the plantingprocess. The above described movement pattern may also be achievedwithout the actuating member 50, by providing such a geometry for thearrangement consisting of the link 42, the hydraulic cylinder 41 and therocker member 44, that the pivotal connection of the hydraulic cylinder41 to the flange 42 under the final phase of the swinging movement ofthe lower portion 16a is automatically moved such in relation to thepivot of the rocker member 45 that the hydraulic cylinder 41 will act toturn the rocker member about the pivot 45.

Referring to FIGS. 6a-6d it is obvious that the hydraulic cylinder 41also contributes to moving the links 36-38 described in connectiontherewith.

The rocker member 44 is designed and arranged in such a manner that theinitial movement of the driving means 48 is quick but relativelypowerless or weak. Towards the end of the movement of the rocker member44 the lever becomes longer and thereby the force acting on the drivingmeans 48 increases. Thus, the invention teaches employing one singlepiston/cylinder means for performing all steps of the above describedplanting process.

FIG. 7 finally illustrates an example of how the hydraulic cylinder 41may be actuated depending upon the rotation of the support wheel orsupport wheels 18. A bracket 49 which is supported at the wheel 18 bymeans of an arm 54, is movable generally in a direction towards and awayfrom the center of the wheel 18 and may be fixed in an optionalposition. The bracket 49 carries a rubber wheel 50 engaging a circularplate disc 51 provided on the side of the support wheel 18. When thesupport wheel 18 rotates the small rubber wheel 50 also rotates and itsrotational movement is transferred to a cam disc 52 which in turnactuates a valve 53 in turn activating the hydraulic cylinder 41 throughhydraulic lines which are not illustrated. In the illustrated embodimentthe hydraulic valve is actuated once for each full turn completed by thecam disc 52. The transmission rate of the small rubber wheel 50, i.e.its rotary speed, may be changed by moving it closer to or further awayfrom the center of the wheel 18, whereby the planting distance betweentwo adjacent cuttings may be steplessly varied within the given limits.Naturally, this adjustment of the distance between the planted cuttingsof each row, may be achieved in a plurality of equivalent manners,controlled by the rotation of the support wheel 18.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the apparatus according tothe invention, for planting cuttings, is intended to be removablyattached to a tractor or any other self-propelled machine, or mayalternatively be self-propelled in itself.

By extending or expanding the frame one, two or even more apparatuses ofthe kind described above may be arranged side by side and accordinglyone, two or several planting rows may be obtained. Due to the fact thatseveral planting assemblies provided side by side may be laterallydisplaced independently of each other on the frame, the distance betweenadjacent rows of cuttings may be steplessly changed.

By using one single hydraulic cylinder, and in the case where theapparatus according to the invention is towed, the pressure fluid sourceof the towing vehicle (tractor) may be employed for driving or operatingup to four planting apparatuses arranged side by side. Although theselected embodiments employ a hydraulic cylinder as power source itshould be obvious to the man skilled in the art that other power meansmay likewise be employed.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for planting cuttings of a suitable length one byone, comprising:a propelled or towed frame supported by rotatablesupport wheels; a planting tube extending substantially verticallyrelative to said frame; means for feeding, one by one, cuttings ofsuitable length for planting or cuttings requiring trimming to asuitable length for planting, said feeding means extending substantiallyvertically relative to said frame and in side by side relationship tosaid planting tube, said feeding means including a pivotal lower portionwhich is pivotal towards said planting tube in a planting position andaway from said planting tube in a non-planting position; means inconnection with said pivotal lower portion for cutting a cutting, whichis longer than a suitable length for planting, in response to pivotingof said pivotal lower portion to said planting position; meansvertically displaceable in said planting tube for driving a cutting, ofsuitable length for planting, relative to said planting tube and saidpivotal lower portion after said pivotal lower portion as been pivotedto said planting position; and means for pivoting said pivotal lowerportion and driving said driving means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim1 wherein said pivotal lower portion extends between a first end and anopposite second end, the length between said first end and said oppositesecond end being substantially equal to a predetermined length of acutting to be planted.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidcutting means comprises one or more knives disposed adjacent an upperend of said pivotal lower portion, said one or more knives forming astop member for any cutting which is disposed within said feeding meansand above said pivotal lower portion when said pivotal lower portion isprovided to said planting position.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3wherein said pivotal lower portion and a discharge segment of saidplanting tube are adjacent a protective housing shaped as a rotatable,ground engaging wheel which together with said feeding means and saidplanting tube is mounted in said frame being pivotal about a pivotpositioned such that said ground engaging wheel, said feeding means andsaid planting tube are pivotal substantially in a vertical planefollowing the ground condition but maintaining their mutual heightposition.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said planting tubecomprises a discharge segment including a lower opening, said loweropening being provided with a bottom, said bottom being moveable betweenclosed and open positions relative to said lower opening for,respectively, supporting a cutting before actuation of said drivingmeans and releasing said cutting during actuation of said driving means.6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pivotal lower portion anda discharge segment of said planting tube are adjacent a protectivehousing shaped as a rotatable, ground engaging wheel which together withsaid feeding means and said planting tube is mounted in said frame beingpivotal about a pivot positioned such that said ground engaging wheel,said feeding means and said planting tube are pivotal substantially in avertical plane following the ground condition but maintaining theirmutual height position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidpivotal lower portion pivots about a pivot, said pivot being locatednear a discharge segment of said planting tube, said discharge segmenthaving a generally semi-circular cross-section, said pivotal lowerportion having a semi-circular cross-section, and said discharge segmentand said pivotal lower portion complement one another to form a tubulardischarge opening of said planting tube when said pivotal lower portionis pivoted to said planting position.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7wherein said pivotal lower portion and a discharge segment of saidplanting tube are adjacent a protective housing shaped as a rotatable,ground engaging wheel which together with said feeding means and saidplanting tube is mounted in said frame being pivotal about a pivotpositioned such that said ground engaging wheel, said feeding means andsaid planting tube are pivotal substantially in a vertical planefollowing the ground condition but maintaining their mutual heightposition.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal lowerportion and a discharge segment of said planting tube are adjacent aprotective housing shaped as a rotatable, ground engaging wheel whichtogether with said feeding means and said planting tube is mounted insaid frame being pivotal about a pivot positioned such that said groundengaging wheel, said feeding means and said planting tube are pivotalsubstantially in a vertical plane following the ground condition butmaintaining their mutual height position.
 10. Apparatus according toclaim 9 wherein said feeding means, said planting tube and said drivingmeans form a planting assembly which is pivotal about a horizontal axisin said frame so that during the actual planting process said plantingassembly may maintain its position relative to the ground independent ofthe advancing movement of the planting apparatus.
 11. Apparatusaccording to claim 10 wherein one single power source comprising ahydraulic cylinder, is mechanically connected to said driving means andto said pivotal lower portion of said feeding means.
 12. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said feeding means, said planting tube andsaid driving means form a planting assembly which is pivotal about ahorizontal axis in said frame so that during the actual planting processsaid planting assembly may maintain its position relative to the groundindependent of the advancing movement of the planting apparatus. 13.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one single power sourcecomprising a hydraulic cylinder, is mechanically connected to saiddriving means and to said pivotal lower portion of said feeding means.14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving means comprisesa solid, cylindrical body surrounded by said planting tube and beingconnected to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder through a transmissionmeans.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of saidsupport wheels comprises means for actuating said hydraulic cylinder,said actuating means being dependent upon rotation of said at least oneof said support wheels.